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Houston Health Department outlines ordinance rewrite, fee changes to comply with state food‑safety law
Summary
The Houston Health Department briefed the Quality of Life Committee on proposed changes to Chapter 20 of the city code to conform local food safety rules and fees to Senate Bill 1008 and the FDA model food code.
The Houston Health Department briefed the Quality of Life Committee on proposed changes to Chapter 20 of the Houston Code of Ordinances to comply with Senate Bill 1008 and align local rules with the FDA model food code and Texas Food Establishment Rules.
Christopher Sparks, bureau chief of Consumer Health Services, said Senate Bill 1008 (the 89th Texas Legislature) restricts local health authorities from imposing requirements that differ from state law unless expressly authorized. The city’s proposed rewrite would repeal conflicting or duplicative local provisions, modernize and streamline regulations, and change permit fees from an employee‑tiered structure to a risk‑based structure consistent with the FDA model food code.
Sparks describe…
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